One can hardly contain one's excitement at the news that the parliament in the EU province of Sweden has decided to ratify the <s>constitutional</s> treaty. So epic is the news, in fact, that we had to go and lie down awhile before we could trust ourselves to commit the joyous news to this blog.

By the way, global warming is racing away so fast that the leaves will still be on the trees at Christmas, with people are sunbathing outside and the polar bears swimming marathons at the North Pole.

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" The more EU-friendly Czech Prime Mirek Topolanek said yesterday that Prague had two choices: ratify the text or become dependent on Moscow. "We criticise a number of EU policies, but it is better to be in it than to stand outside," he has stated. "

They will get the worst of both worlds. Putin has Europe has bent over an Oil barrel. Thank you NATO.

Since the peoples of once proud democratic countries have been excluded from the political process,will they care when things turn sour for the ruling elite? One feudal overlord is much like another,though the mandarins of the EU may go on forever.

I am no lawyer...however, the point you raise about Herr Kohler's nod...or not, is interesting. Karlsruhe is extremely pernickerty in upholding the Constitution (virtually, & now often regretfully, imposed by The Allies after WW2) and changes thereto are anathema.
Should Karlsruhe opine that 'the Treaty' is unconstitutional, no matter how 'beneficial' to the Bundesrepublik, then the words " wenn die Kacke am Dampfen ist" come to mind.

I know that Norway subsidiizes it press-does Sweden do the same? This of course makes democracy a complete sham-but awonderfully effective way of establishing a political nomenklatura.

I note with satisfaction that NYTimes stock is just above $5 a share, down two thirds in three months. Am looking forward to their bankruptcy.